USA introduces more sanctions against Russia’s defense export enterprise

The US administration has single-handedly introduced new sanctions against Russia’s defense export giant Rosoboronexport for the cooperation with the armed forces of Iran, Itar-Tass reports. The Russian company accused the US authorities of unfair rivalry in return.

Photo: USA introduces more sanctions against Russia’s defense export enterprise

In addition to Rosoboronexport, the new black list included three companies from China, two from North Korea, two from Sudan and companies from South Korea, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. All of these companies have been accused of distributing the technologies that could be used for the creation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. The US administration said that the listed companies violated the US law about the non-proliferation in respect of Iran, North Korea and Syria.

The decision of the US government to introduce sanctions against the Russian defense export company is another manifestation of unfair rivalry, spokespeople for the company said. “It is not the first time when the US authorities attempt to show pressure on the only state-run mediator for the export of arms and military hardware abroad,” the press secretary of Rosoboronexport, Vyacheslav Davydenko told Itar-Tass.

The sanctions mean that any departments of the US government are not allowed to render any assistance to the listed companies, purchase their production or use their services. In addition, the sanctions deprive the black-listed companies of an opportunity to purchase military hardware and services in the United States.

The sanctions have been introduced for two years and can be withdrawn by the US Secretary of State.

It is worthy of note that the USA has introduced sanctions against Rosoboronexport twice – in July and December 2006. On July 28, 2006, the USA introduced sanctions against two Russian companies – Rosoboronexport and world-known enterprise Sukhoi, the maker of Su fighter jets.

It was said back then that the two companies violated the US law about non-proliferation in respect of Iran, which prohibited the cooperation with the country in the field of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The companies were virtually accused of delivering cruise or ballistic missiles to Iran, as well as the equipment and materials which could be used in the creation of WMDs.

In November 2006, the Bush’s administration withdrew the sanctions against Sukhoi, but left the punitive measures against Rosoboronexport unchanged.

New sanctions were put into effect against Rosoboronexport five months later in accordance with a decision signed by then-acting deputy assistant secretary of state for nuclear nonproliferation Andrew Semmel.

The document particularly ran that the US government made a decision to introduce sanctions against the Russian defense export enterprise on December 22, 2006 for the period of two years. Rosoboronexport said that the sanctions testified to unfair competition which the US authorities practiced against the company in particular and the Russian Federation in general.